The Red Snowball Tree

Yegor Prokudin finishes his prison sentence and heads to a rural village to meet his pen pal Lyuba, who wrote to him from there. He plans to lay low for a while and avoid re-entering his old life, hoping for a fresh start. The village begins to mark the start of a new chapter in his story.

Lyuba greets him, and it becomes clear she genuinely loves him despite his criminal past. Yegor remains skeptical of acceptance from locals but resolves to keep a low profile at first. The couple's relationship becomes the emotional center of the story.

Yegor travels to the town where he spends on drinking and dancing with strangers, enjoying a momentary escape from guilt. He wires money to a former associate, signaling a possible connection to his old life behind the fragile veneer of his new start. The outing contrasts with his later commitment to change.

While Yegor is away, Lyuba's friends urge her to reunite with her ex-husband, hinting that Yegor's return might threaten her stability. They doubt his ability to stay away from crime and fear trouble for the village. The social pressure creates tension around Yegor's future.

Yegor comes back to Lyuba and settles in the village, choosing to sever his criminal past. He commits to a quieter life, and Lyuba's welcome reinforces his resolve to reform. The couple begins building a normal life together.

Initial distrust gives way as the community slowly accepts Yegor, seeing his genuine affection for Lyuba and his effort to abandon old habits. A sense of belonging gradually takes hold, and the village becomes a small place of redemption. The relationship between Yegor and Lyuba anchors the villagers' gradual trust.

Lyuba pretends to be a social worker to visit an elderly woman in a neighboring village. The woman speaks of a hard life and not seeing her son for 18 years. In a quiet moment, Yegor, sitting in another room with sunglasses, tearfully admits that the visitor is actually his mother.

Lyuba's ex-husband and his friend come to the village to challenge Yegor, sparking a tense confrontation. They start a fight, but they retreat when they see Yegor does not fear them. The display of resolve reinforces Yegor's commitment to staying out of crime.

Yegor finds work as a tractor driver in the fields and finds solace in a simple, nature-filled routine. The job marks another step toward normalcy and away from his criminal past. He enjoys the steady pace of farm life.

The former associate arrives in the village with money and urges Yegor to return to town. Yegor rejects the offer, throwing the money back at him as a clear sign that he wants to stay away from crime. The moment underscores the pull of old ties and his resolve to change.

Five criminals arrive in the village and shoot Yegor before quickly escaping. The assault shatters the village's fragile peace and triggers a frantic response to protect loved ones. The violence marks a brutal test of Yegor's new life.

Yegor dies in Lyuba's arms as her brother Pyotr chases the attackers in a dump truck. Pyotr crashes the criminals’ car into a river, ending the pursuit. The ending seals the tragedy of a man trying to escape his past and protect his love.